Tipped Ears

Tipped Ears and The Lancashire Heeler

Although the majority of Lancashire Heelers have pricked ears, some have tipped ears, which are not only perfectly acceptable but often sought after..

Simonsville Gordon Bennett Owned by Bill and Ginnette Simpson

HEARING GEAR

Those of you who have read either of Kathie Kidd's books on the Lancashire Heeler will no doubt have been interested in the section on the history of the breed. There are some wonderful photographs which were generously supplied by Ellis Garner, whose family have farmed in the Ormskirk area for many generations. What is interesting is that all the dogs are quite clearly Lancashire Heelers and all of them have tipped ears - proof, if any were needed, that tipped ears are a traditional feature of the breed.

When the Lancashire Heeler made its debut in the show ring, there were a number of top winners with tipped ears. Stillastar Alfie (the first LH to win a place at Crufts) Bouncing Bubbles at Bowanne, Chollagem Dolly Daydream, Merry Meg of the Embages, Shoeshine Boy of Patterjo and Bellsmond Cherokee are some that stand out.

One function of the outer ear (the part that we can see) is to protect the delicate mechanism inside but there is more to it than that. A farm dog like the Heeler needs to be able to locate sounds accurately, whether it be an intruder, vermin in the corner of a barn or an instruction from the handler. Hence the outer ear needs to be mobile - the alert lift referred to in the breed standard - to enable the dog to do its work. The ears are also an organ of balance and when doing any form of work the Heeler needs to be agile and able to change direction with no loss of momentum - look at the working and agility pictures on the site to see this - so the mobility helps with this as well. Finally, ears are used to communicate, something every Heeler owner knows well and moods and feelings can be easily read by the observant owner and of course, other dogs.

Upright ears are genetically dominant to tipped and, given that several well-used stud dogs had pricked ears, it is not surprising that tipped ears became less common. The side effect of this is that some people (even judges who should know better) having only seen pricked ears in the showring, do not realise that tipped ears are just as acceptable.

It would be a great shame such a traditional and historic feature were to disappear completely. So even if genetics aren't on our side can we do anything? Of course! Get your dogs out and about and in the showring, talk to people about them and promote them but most of all, enjoy owning a bit of Heeler history.